Suturing instrument



March 25, 1947.

H. H. OGBURN 'Re; 22,857

SUTURING INSTRUMENT Original Filed Dec. 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTbR. Herbert? O g'bum 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. Herbs/QU Z agbarn H H QGBURN SUTURING INSTRUMENT Original Filed Dec. 20, 1945 March 25, I947.

ATTORNEYS.

March 25 1947.

H. H. OGBURN I V Re. 22,857

SUTUHING INSTRUMENT Original Filed Dec. 20, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEINTOR. Herbert H Oghzrn ATTORNEYS Reissued Mar. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE SUTURING INSTRUMENT Herbert H. Ogburn, Greensboro, N. 0., assignor of one-half to Bobbie Gene Ogburn, one-fourth to Jean Ogburn, and one-fourth to Sally gburn, all of Greensboro, N. 0.

Original No. 2,365,647, dated December 19, 1944, Serial No. 514,946, December 20, 1943. Application for reissue December 10, 1945, Serial No.

This invention relates to surgical instruments and has special reference to a suturing device. a

One important object of the present invention is to provide a. novel and improved suturing device wherewith suturing operations may be performed with great facility and rapidity.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel device of the character .set forth wherein the operation of the-instrument is, in substance, practically identical with that of an ordinary forceps for holding suturing needles so that a surgeon accustomed to use such forceps is not required, in using the present instrument, to acquire a new method of manipulation in forcing a needle through the lips of a wound.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a suturing device having novel means for carrying a bobbin of suturing material.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind set forth having a novel arrangement of brake means whereby the suture is gripped in such manner as to avoid pull on the suture tending to unwind the bobbin.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide guide means of such character as will cause the suture to lie close to the body of the instrument and thereby greatly lessen the possibility of the needle being unthreaded.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of cutting means for severing the suture after it has been applied to the wound.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide novel means for gripping the suture end when the instrument is not in use and thereby preventing accidental unthreading of the needle.

With the above and other objects in mind, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an edge view thereof.

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged section on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the bobbin shown in Figure 4 with the suture removed and showing 16 Claims. (Cl. 1285-340) a clip used to hold the end of the suture at the start of a bobbin winding operation.

Figure 7 is a similar side elevation at right angles to Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2, the scale being still further enlarged.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Figure 8. I

Figure 10 is a section, to a greatly enlarged scale, on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a greatly enlarged detail view of a portion of Figure 3 and showing the suture cutter used in this invention.

Figure 12 is a section on the line |2-l2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a section on the line I 3-43 of Figure 12 but to a scale twice that of said figure. Figure 14 is an enlarged side elevation of a curved needle suitable to form a component of this invention.

Figure 15 is a view in elevation of this needle taken from the left hand side of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an enlarged axial section of the point portion of the needle.

Figure 17 is a still larger section on the line i'|--I1 of Figure 16.

. Figure 18 is a View, partly in section, and showing certain steps in suturing a wound with this invention.

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 18 but showing a further step in the operation.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings there is provided a forceps having a pair of arms l0 and II offset at their forward ends to cross each other and form cooperating noses I 2 and I3. These arms are pivotally connected by a screw l3 and are provided at their rear ends with thumb and finger loops l4.

Located on the arm I I is a bobbin holder indicated in general at l5. At its forward end this bobbin holder has a cylindrical recess l5 of proper size to hold the bobbin which is of the usual form having end plates l'l connected by a hollow barrel l8.- Secured to or projecting from this barrel i8 is a suture clip l9 having an offset end spaced from the body of the barrel so as to grip the end portion of a suture in the operation of winding the bobbin. The coilof suture which'is .wound on the barrel is shown at 20 and, from this coil, the suture extends as at 2| to pass through a slot 22 in the forward part of the bobbin holder. Projecting laterally from the holder is a pair of vertically spaced lugs 23 supporting a pivot pin 24 whereon is pivversely of the lug 28 is a bore 3| which is alinecl with the head 30 and has the endremote' from said head normally closed by a removable screw 32. In the bore 3| is seated a coiled compression spring 33 which bears at one end-on the screw 32 and at its other end against the head 30 so that the brake head 26 is pressed towards the bobbin holder l5 and normally grips the portion 21 of the suture thus resisting pull on the suture and the unwinding, of the bobbin. By exerting finger pressure on the head .30 against the action of the spring 33 the brake arm. 25 will .be biassed in such manner as to move the brake head 26 away from the holder I5 thus releasing the braking efiect on the suturetopermit desired unwinding of the bobbin.

A cover 34 normally closes the recess IE the cover beingpivoted at 35- to the lug 28. Any suitable means,rsuch. as the downwardly struck depression 36 operating in conjunction with a corresponding dent (not shown) in the rim of the holder, may be used to hold the cover against accidental opening. While the cover. normally holds the bobbin in the holder it may be swung.

to open the holder for insertion or changingof' bobbins.

Extending forwardly, as .at 31, fromthe brake head 26'the suture passes. to and downwardly through the opening 38 formed in the arm II. This opening is formed, as. seen in Figure 8, with a rearwardly curvedupper lip v39and a forwardly curved'lower lip Also as to lead the suture smoothly through the hole 38 and permit it to pass forwardly, as at 4|, close' against the arm I I. In the nose or jaw I2 is a hole 42 havingboth the upper and lower lips curved. rearwardly asat 43 so that'the suture will pass smoothly and freely through this hole and up as at' 44.

A needle 45 is used in this invention; This needle may be of any'desired size or curvature and is gripped, in use, firmly between the jaws I2 and I3,.the usual forcepslatching' means 46 being provided at the'rear'portion; of the device. The needle is provided'on the convex side of its curvature with a suture receiving, groove 41 which extends to an opening. or eye 48 located well toward but spaced from the point-of the needle. The part 44 of the suture lies in this groove and the suture then extendszthroughthe eye 48. and terminates in an end portion 49 which, when the instrument is not-muse, is held by a. clip 59 fixed on thesside ofthearm" llbut whichis allowedto' fly free when i a suturing, operation is: effected. By'beingheld. inxthe':v clip 50 the.-. suture, from the point'where iti'leaves the brake head tothe clip; is held' taut sothat the part 4|. will not readily catch an obstruction when the device is laid down in its normal position with the bobbin holder I5 uppermost. the'clip 50. prevents accidental unthreading, of the needle. It is to be noted that the needle may beheld in any desired position in the jawsso that the'instrumentmay' be used equally well Consequently the use of 4 by a left-handed person as by one who is righthanded.

Fixed to the side of the member or arm II is a suture cutter which has a stem 5| terminating in a.- transverse head 52 provided with recurved arms. 53, knife edges 54 being formed at the concave edges of these arms. By means of this T-headed cutter the suture may be cut by either a right-handed or a left-handed person with equal facility.

' Figures 18 and 19 show typical steps in suturing a wound with this instrument. In Figure 18 there is shown the passing of the needle through the lipsofa wound or cut W. As the point of the needle projects in the manner shown a part of the suture portion extends like a bow string from the exit of the needle from the flesh to the eye 48 asin the full line showing, the extremity of. the part 49 not having entered the flesh. The bow string part is then grasped by a tweezers F, forceps or even by the fingersand pulled through as indicated by the dotted lines. At the'sametime the brake. is released and the needle backed out as shown in Figure 19. Ihe brake is keptoff until sufficient suture has been drawn through the eye to enable the suture to reach the cutter whereupon the brake is allowed to be applied and the suture cut by entry into a convenient side of the cutter.

While open wounds not capable of bein spanned by the needle may be sutured by inserting the needle through one lip of the wound, releasing the needle from the forceps and regripping it at a place where it has been projected through the lip and drawing it entirely through this lip, again releasing the needle and regripping it by its base portion and operating on the other lip similarto the manner shown in Figure 18.

Various other operative procedures will occur to the experienced'surgeon but it is not necessary here to go into all possible procedures since the examples shown and described clearly demonstrate the utility of the instrument.

What is claimed as new is:

1'. In combination, a pair of 'forceps havinga' pair of crossing arms each provided at one end with a jaw to receive a suture needle and at its other end with handle means, a suture bobbin rotatably supported on one of said arms, a brake mechanism finger operatable from the handle ends of said arms, and suture guiding means on one of said arms and one of said jaws for guiding asuture from the-brake means to the needle eye:

2'. In'combination, a pair of forceps having a pairof crossing arms each provided at one end with a jaw and at its other end with handle means, a suture bobbin rotatably supported on one of said arms, a brake mechanism finger operatablefrom the'handle ends of said arms, a pointed suturing needle gripped between said jaws and having an eye adjacent its point; and suture clippingmeans on one of 'the'arms for engaging the end of a suture'and holding it taut from the brake mechanism to said clipping means.

3. In combination, a pair of forceps having a pair of pivotally connected crossing arms each provided at one end with a jaw to receive a suture needle andat its other end with handle means, a bobbin holder on one of said arms and having, at its forward end a, cylindrical bobbin receiving recess; the wall of said recess being provided with a suture passage, a bobbin rotatably held in said recessfoncarryinga coil of suture, a brake.mech-.

anism operable from the handle ends of said arms and engaging the suture after it leaves said passage, and suture guiding means on one of said arms and one of said jaws for guiding a suture from the brake means to the needle eye.

4. In combination, a pair of forceps having a pair of pivotally connected crossing arms each provided at one end with a jaw and at its other end with handle means, a bobbin holder on one of said arms and having at its forward end a cylindrical bobbin receiving recess, the wall of said recess being provided with a suture passage, a bobbin rotatably held in said recess for carrying a coil of suture, a brake mechanism operable from the handle ends of said arms and engaging the suture after it leaves said passage, a pointed suturing needle gripped in said jaws and having an eye adjacent its point, and suture clipping means on one of said arms for engaging the end of a suture and hold it taut from the braking mechanism.

5. In combination, a pair of forceps having a pair of crossing arms pivotally connected and each provided at one end with a jaw and at the other end with handle means, a suture bobbin rotatably supported on one of said arms, a brake mechanism positioned to engage a suture wound on said bobbin and extending therefrom, and spring means urging said brake mechanism into braking position, said braking mechanism being finger operable from the handle means end of the arms for release against the action of said spring means.

6. In combination, a pair of forceps having a pair of pivotally connected crossing arms each having a jaw at one end and finger loop at the other, a suture bobbin holder on one of said arms and having a cylindrical recess for receiving a bobbin, said holder having a suture passage in its wall, a suture bobbin revolubly mounted in said recess and having suture wound thereon and extending through said passage, a brake arm pivoted at the side of said holder and having a brake head adapted to press a portion of the suture extending from the passage, and spring means effecting braking movement of said head, said brake arm having a rearward extension adapted for engagement by a finger of a hand having otherflngers engaged in said loops.

7. In combination, a pair of forceps having a pair of pivotally connected crossing arms each having a jaw at one end and finger loop at the other, a suture bobbin holder on one of said arms and having a cylindrical recess for receiving a bobbin, said holder having a suture passage in its wall, a suture bobbin revolubly mounted in said recess and having suture wound thereon and extending through said passage, a brake arm pivoted at the side of said holder and having a brake head adapted to press a portion of the suture extending from the passage, and a suturing needle gripped by said jaws. said needle having a point and being provided with an eye adjacent said point to receive the suture extending beyond the brake head.

8. In combination, a pair of forceps having a pair of pivotally connected crossing arms each having a jaw at one end and finger loop at the other, a, suture bobbin holder on one of said arms and having a cylindrical recess for receiving a bob-bin, said holder having a suture passage in its wall, a suture bobbin revolubly mounted in said recess and having suture wound thereon and extending through said passage, a brake arm pivoted at the side of said holder and having a brake head adapted to press a portion of the suture extending from the passage, a pointed suturing needle gripped between said jaws and having an eye adjacent the point for receiving suture leading from the brake head, and guide means associated with said forceps for holding the suture close to the forceps in its passage from the brake head to the needle.

9. In combination, a pair of forceps having a pair of pivotally connected crossing arms each having a jaw at one end and finger loop at the other, a suture bobbin holder on one of said arms and having a cylindrical recess for receiving a bobbin, said holder having a suture passage in its wall, a suture bobbin revolubly mounted in said recess and having suture wound thereon and extending through said passage, a brake arm pivoted at the side of said holder and having a brake head adapted to press a portion of the suture extending from the passage, a pointed suturing needle gripped between said jaws and having an eye adjacent the point for receiving suture lead .ing from the brake head, and suture clipping means on one of the arms for engaging the free end portion of the suture after passing through the eye.

10. A suture cutter for suturing forceps having arms and consisting of a stem extending laterally from one of said arms, a, T-head on said stem having ends curved backwardly toward the arm carrying said stem, and knife edges.

11. In a suturing instrument, a holder for a suture bobbin, said holder comprising a body having a recess to rotatably hold a bobbin and having an opening through the holder body in communication with said recess to permit the passage of suture from the bobbin outwardly therethrough, a cover for said recess and brake means carried by said body having an operative position in which suture unwound from the bobbin is clamped by it against said body and an inoperative position in which the suture is unclamped. resilient means in control of said brake means yieldably maintaining it in said operative position, said brake means including a finger engageable portion to actuate said brake means against the influence of said resilient means to move said brake means into its inoperative position,

12. In a suturing instrument, a holder for a suture bobbin comprising a body having a recess to rotata'bly hold a bobbin and having an opening through the body in communication with said recess to permit the passage of suture from the bobbin outwardly therethrough, a cover for said recess on said body, a lever pivotably carried by said body, the front end of said lever being disposed to clamp a portion of the suture extending outwardly from the opening against the outer surface of the body adjacent the opening, and spring means between said body and the rear part of the lever resiliently holding the lever in suture clamping position but yieldable to permit said lever to be released by finger pressure from said clamping position.

13. In a suturing instrument, a bobbin holder comprising a casing having a cylindrical bobbin receiving recess and a suture passage in communication therewith, said recess rotatably holding a suture bobbin, a plate over said recess for retaining the bobbin in place, a brake lever pivotally attached to said holder, the front end portion of said lever being engageable with the outer ture-one end :of which :bears against the rearend portion of the brake lever, abacking plug threaded in said aperture to establish a seat for the other end of said spring, said spring being under sufficient compression to yieldably maintain said brake lever in sutureclamping position.

14. In a suturing instrument, a holder for a suture bobbin comprising a body including a cylindrical front portion and a rear portion, said front portion having a cylindrical recess to rotatably hold a bobbin and having an opening in communication with the recess to permit the passage of suture from the bobbin outwardly therethrough, a cover for said recess on said body, and a lever pivotally mounted on said body, said lever comprising front and rear portions, said front lever portion being curved and disposable to engage with the outer surfaces of said body adjacent the opening'and the rear lever part extending in spaced relation to the rear body portion, a spring interposed between said'rear body portion, said rear lever portion resiliently maintaining said front lever portion in engagement with said body thereby to clamp a portion of the suture therebetween, but yielding when said rear lever portion is pressed towards said rear body portion to unclamp the suture.

15. In a suturing instrument, a holder for a suture bobbin, said holder comprising a body having a recess to rotatably hold a bobbin and having a slot extending downwardly from its upper edge to permit the passage of suture from the bobbin outwardly therethrough, a cover for said recess attached to said body and closing the upper end of said slot,' and brake means carried by said body having an operative position in which suture unwound from the bobbin is clamped by it against said body and an inoperative position in which the suture is unclamped, resilient means in control of said brake ,means' ieldably 8. maintaining it; in saidoperative: position; said brake means including a: finger engageable por; tion to actuate said brake means against the action of said resilient means to move said brake means into its inoperative position.

16. In a suturing instrument, a holder for a suture bobbin, said holder comprising a body having a recess to rotatably hold a bobbin and an opening in communication with said recess to permit the passage of suture from the bobbin outwardly through said body, and brake means carried by said body having an operative position in which suture unwound from the bobbin is clamped against the outer surface of said body adjacent said opening and an inoperative position in which the suture is unclamped, resilient means in control of said brake meansyieldably main,- taining it in said operative position, said brake means including a finger engageable portion to actuate said brake means against the influence of said resilient means to move said brake means into its inoperative position.

HERBERT H. OGBURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,136,305 Andrews Apr; 20, 1915 1,327,577 Turner Jan. 6, 1920 1,876,792 Thompson Sept. 13, 1932 2,008,251 Hillebrand July 16, 1935 2,336,689 Karla Dec. 14, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES Singer Surgical Stitching Instrument'pamphlet (copyright Singer Sewing Machine Co., 1942) pages 8 and 23. 

